3 Reasons Why KMT was the Greatest Nation at Camp Akili

>> Tuesday, August 31, 2010



Some folks from Camp Akili been on Facebook banging their tribes/nations pretty hard since we got back on Friday.

I admit. The air up in Philo, CA at the Wellspring Retreat Center was excellent. So coming back to the polluted, toxic swamp of the East Bay, the oxygen may be intoxicating...even delusional. But seriously, act like y'all know.

K.M.T. That's on mamas, Obamas, citas on e'rythang. Kemet was the greatest tribe at 2010 Akili.

But some people are still suffering from molasses in the brain cells, so I figured I'd make it simple.

The Top 3 Reasons why KMT was the greatest nation at Camp Akili 2010.

1. We been doing this.


Above is a photo of Brother Reggie in KMT in front of Queen Hapshetsut's mortuary temple. Queen Hapshetsut was one of the greatest pharaohs -- especially among women pharaohs -- ruling longer than any other women. She was also a prolific builder. As you can see, I was repping K-M-T in Kemet (Egypt).

2. Young Gifted and Black


Checking out our nation, we had some solid young men and women. From left at bottom, Drea, Isha B., Mandy; second row, Jamani, Jazz the Poet, Gibson and Kadeja. Finally, there is Brother Reggie and Gibson.

3. Michael Jackson told y'all who started this
As beautiful as the song is, it is important to note the historical significance of Michaels storyingtelling through video.


Our brother Michael did a great job at ensuring that the ancestors of the Ancient Egypt were represented more accurately. Besides, other nations have no artist to compare. Sure, Afrika Baambata reps the Zulus. Ashanti is named after a lip-synching singer that hung out with a wannabee Tupac/DMX. And Dogon? Snoop Dogg? Sad.

Maybe these equations will make it simple:

KMT > Ashanti KMT > Dogon
KMT > Garafuna KMT > Hausa
KMT > Yoruba KMT > Zulu

So let it be known, from the Nile Valley in Egypt to the Transamerica Building in San Francisco, K.M.T. gone represent.

We not just a tribe, or a nation: we're a civilization. Recognize.

We are African greatness.

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How many types of Bitches are there?

A great blogger I know shared a disturbing blog post with me today. The post was called, "Types of Bitches." The blog, "And I am not lying."

Here's the background:
The author's friend's cousin (it's getting good) apparently found a piece of paper at the elementary school she was teaching at. The paper had a list of about 90 types of bitches.



You can read the rest of the list on And I am not lying.

Why is Bitch such a popular word? Why is Bitch Too Short's favorite word? When "I got Five on it" (the remix) comes on, why does the crowd participation differ so drastically when listening to the song in the Bay Area versus everywhere else?

Do you think this list was created by a 3rd grader? If so, what are you thoughts? How many types of bitches are there?

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First day of school wore my body down

Although school started last week, today was my first day. I am exhausted!

I have a class that starts before 8 a.m., and my last class ends after 9 p.m. My classes are cool, though. I like my professors already, and I've found people in class I will be able to study with.

I was also able to get my transcripts for a scholarship I'm applying for. I also got a grade changed. A process that truly has tested my patience and determination.

I was also able to make great progress on a literacy program I'm initiating. I think I'll name it, "Peralta READS." I'm still working on an acronym for "READS."

Today, I have to finalize my class schedule and budget for books. With rent due tomorrow, it's going to be hard. But I got a secret weapon: the penny jar.

All in all, with all the running around, all the potential distractions, I was able to remain focused. But, I got sick. I'm taking it slow today.

I've already shoved a bunch of vitamins down my throat. I also drank plenty of water and some tea.

Photo Credit: My new phone.

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Gabriel Prosser's Rebellion - August 30, 1800

>> Monday, August 30, 2010

As Black August comes to a close, it is important to acknowledge another freedom fighter.

Two hundred and ten years ago, Gabriel "Prosser" planned to lead a slave rebellion in Virginina. Before his plans could be executed, two bootlicking, Uncle Tom traitors went and told. The Virginina governor ordered the militia after Gabriel, who fled. He was later found after another slave told on him for the reward.

That traitor never received the full reward. (Did they really think they would?)

One of many slave revolts in North America, Prosser's rebellion was inspired by the Haitian Revoltion. I once read that Prosser believe that Haiti would have fleets waiting off the coast to assist in the freedom struggle.

As a result of of the rebellion, over the next decade, new laws restricting movement of Blacks off of plantations and banning free Blacks in the state were implemented.

Gabriel was a true hero.


"Prosser's Gabriel" folk song by Tim Barry
A resolution remember the "execution of the patriot and freedom fighter, Gabriel, whose death stands as a symbol for the determination and struggle of slaves to obtain freedom, justice and equality as promised by the fundamental principles of democratic governments of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America," was passed by the Richmond, VA City Council in 2002.

In 2007, Prosser was pardoned by Virginia's governor.

It is interesting to note, that some historians argue that Gabriel's last name was not Prosser. Gabriel was referred to, according to historian Douglas Egerton in his book, Gabriel's Rebellion: The Virginia Slave Conspiracies of 1800 & 1802, as Prosser's Gabriel.

Gabriel was caught September 25 and executed on October 6. Rest in Power, our beautiful Angel Gabriel.

In honor of Gabriel, here is my 2006 Remix to "Tell me when to go." The song is called, "When did we Become (Dumb)?" but is more commonly known as "Free-Dumb (Freedumb)."

Reggie General-"When did we become"

Five Eighty | MySpace Music Videos


This week, what are you doing to advance the freedom struggle?

Photo Credit: BlackPast.org

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Camp Akili bound - Anticipating a Liberating Experience

>> Monday, August 23, 2010

After a fantastic (terrific/great) summer teaching at Oakland Freedom School, I'm super juiced that Camp Akili 2010 is here. And I am honored to be a part of it.



"Camp Akili offers interactive exercises that teach participants about the root causes of social inequality, cultivating their abilities to identify and solve problems in their communities. It is an annual, five-day residential camp that takes place out of the city. At camp, teens are assigned to “nations” that facilitate peer learning, youth leadership opportunities, and conflict resolution. The teens form strong bonds with each other and their counselors as they experience psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing on such topics as racism, sexism, internalized oppression, and economic disenfranchisement."
Source: LeadershipExcellence.org
Camp Akili is a one week camp that trains Black youth 14-18 to identify and challenge systems of violence, racism, and sexism. It is a radical experiential healing camp that truly transforms young people's lives.

It is also transformative for adults.

In 2007, I volunteered as a Camp Counselor. Not only did experience train me to be a better youth development professional, but provided some healing for a number of issues I was dealing with in my personal life.

It also led to me being fired by the Alameda Boys and Girls Club for "job abandonment," for the three days I was attending camp. Even though I'd received permission from the site director to attend.

After being in an intense environment where young people were loved, staff supported one another and went through painstaking, sleep depriving debriefs -- in order work harmoniously together -- it was ultimately the best thing for my health. Although I'm always sad to hear the young men and women I worked with tell me they no longer go to a Center in their own housing complex and community -- and disgusted by some of the fraudulent things I've seen -- I know that there are organizations and people that really care about our youth.

Besides, if I'd never been fired, I would've never got the Peralta EasyPass program with AC Transit started. I would've never helped organized the 10th Annual Black Caucus Leadership Conference (ABCLC). I would've never been able to organize on behalf of the California Community Colleges UMOJA movement.

Most importantly, I would've never become a journalist. I would've never became Editor-in-Chief of the Laney Tower newspaper, expanded the Harambee Newspaper beyond a newsletter and blog, restarted the Laney Black Student Union (Laney BSU) and launched it's newsletter, The Defender or The Black Hour Radio Show.

Programs like Camp Akili help students recognize their innate African greatness and utilize that strength and talent to uplift ourselves, our families and our communities.

I'll write more about Camp Akili when I return August 27. Until then, this 2006 Camp Akili clip should let you know how I feel.

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I'm Denmark Vessey, Nat Turner

>> Sunday, August 22, 2010

I have dreams of meeting folks like Nat Turnerand Cinque. Then I wake up in the American Nightmare.

And when I look around for leadership, the strongest symbols of Black Manhood in the media are dumb ass rappers. I might have to go Ice Cube on folks and start jacking for beats. Again.

I came out of rap retirement on Twitter last night. Here's my remix to Rick Ross' B.M.F.:

1) I think I'm Vessey, Nat Turner/no more whips or work, Hallelujah/One vision, straight from God/resurrecting insurrection bout to start//
2)Favorite color triple Black, my Grandma geechee bro/Other grandma Sioux but no teepee though/
3)Cinque, that's my nickname/Liberation constantly on my big brain/
4)Black Panther Cub, your affiliation?/Starting co-ops to stop gentrification//
5) Forging freedom papers looking authenticated/Wiped with your Constitution after I defecated/

Enough rapping. Gotta get ready for Camp Akili.

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Remembering Nat Turner

>> Saturday, August 21, 2010


There's a reason why we call this month, "Black August." Birthdays of numerous revolutionaries and revolutionary acts.

But one of the most historically important, yet historically neglect in education happened 179 years ago.

On August 21, 1831, Nat Turner led one of the largest slave insurrections in U.S. history. Called "Prophet Nat" for his deep religious and spiritual convictions, Turner led a band of enslaved Africans on a revolutionary killing spree that terminated the lives of over four dozen white slaveholders and landowning aristocrats.

Although he spared no women or children, he was said to have spared the lives of poor whites, because they thought no better of themselves than Negroes.


"Nat Turner" rap by Reef Tha Lost Cause. Powerful rap song documenting Nat Turner's rebellion (nice blues-influenced beat
I recently completed Kyle Baker's critically acclaimed graphic novel, "Nat Turner." This 200 page, historically based and comic book styled novel was amazing. The artistic depictions of a historically unknown event brought the insurrection to life.

"One thing that's always mystified me about slavery is this:," Baker writes in the preface, "If slaves were selected and bred for size and strength, slavemasters must very quickly have found themselves outnumbered by their bigger, strong slave population."

"How does a weaker minority dominate a physically superior majority?" Baker asks. "In my research I learned that this is accomplished by destroying the slave's mind. More effective than whips and guns was the simple act of outlawing the teaching of slaves to read or to write."


Credit: Complex.com

The novel goes on to graphically depict the life of Prophet Nat. The kidnapping of his mother from Africa, his father running away, his desire to read, his interest in the Bible, his revolutionary Moses-like vision, the insurrection and his triumphant, but tragic capture and lynching. Turner was executed in Jerusalem, VA.

There are no words in the book; although, there are passages from the book, "The Confessions of Nat Turner." It is important to note that many Black historians dispute the validity of this text. Yet, Baker is able to use passages to add power to the visuals.

With my time running short today, I am reminded of a few things:
Black Liberation Theology and the 2008 attacks on the Black Church. After recently teaching at Oakland Freedom School, housed this year in a historic Black church in West Oakland, I was reminded of how important that institution is.
White Jesus and Black Congregations. It's 2010 and many Black folks still praise "White Jesus." Although many scholars such as Na'im Akbar and Tony Browder have educated us on the historical inaccuracy of the "White Jesus" image as well as the negative psychological consequences, many congregations still use Bibles with this imagery or have huge 30 feet images on their churches.
Uncle Tom Preachers. Chairman Omali Yeshitela broke that down in his lecture, "If Jesus was a revolutionary, why is your preacher an Uncle Tom."
Finally, The Power and Potency of Righteous Knowledge. Nat Turner would be considered a terrorist today. An enemy combatant. I recall reading one article comparing Turner to a "radical" Jihadist.

Turner's actions led to the creation of some of the most oppressive laws towards enslaved Africans since...Bacon's Rebellion. It was prohibited to educate the enslaved or free and all Black worship services had to have a white minister present.

Is not the slave righteous in his rebellion against the system of oppression? Or as Nat Turner responded to a question of any remorse:

"Was not Christ crucified?"

Rest in Power Nat Turner.


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Alameda Islamic Center holding fundraiser

>> Wednesday, August 18, 2010



My masjid (see, mosque) in Alameda is holding a fundraiser Saturday, August 21. The fundraiser will be at the Chandni Restaurant in Newark. Featured speakers are: Imam Zaid Shakir, Amir Abdul Malik Ali, Dr. Mohammad Rajabally and Sister Ameena Jandali.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door - to purchase, call (510) 410-4006 or Email.

Last year, the Islamic Center of Alameda (ICA) was able to purchase the building it's rented out for decades.

"Alhamdulillah, our prayers were answered and Allah (SWT) blessed us. We received donations from brothers and sisters from all over the Bay Area, across the United States and overseas," wrote Imam Musa Balde. "The $270,000 borrowed from generous brothers and sisters are due now, and hence the Fundraiser Iftar is being held to repay them as we promised."

After taking shahaddah nearly six years ago, I have seen our Ummah (community) grow.

"Our community has been doubling in size over the last few years, as more Brothers and Sisters accept Islam," Balde said. The center now offers many programs such as feeding the needy, a Madrassa (school for children), summer camp and Prison/Community Dawah (outreach).

The dinner is Saturday, August 21st at 5:00 PM at Chandni Restaurant 5748 Mowry School Rd Newark, CA 94560. Tickets available at www.icabayarea.org or by calling (510) 410-4006.

Even if you cannot make to the fundraiser, please consider a donation for the sake of Allah, which can be made through our PayPal link on our website.

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"Media Magic" Rap about Bay Area Media Influence

I recently found an old USB drive while cleaning. It had just 512MB, but whoa! It had some content.

I found a bunch of old photos from the College of Alameda Black Student Union (Alameda BSU). As a side note: I posted those to my Facebook, and it's good to see many of those relationships still active. I found some old homework, essays, instrumentals and some lyrics.

What follows is my first first from a song called, "Media Magic." It featured me and a young man named, "Mari Bo." The song is about media, its portrayal of Black people and its influence. Ironically, both me and Jamari Caldwell have both gone into journalism. Last I heard, he was at Chico State writing for the Orion.
(Lyrics Below>
"Media Magic"
By Reggie General

No me gusta escuchar la radio
Porque dispersa decepcion en mi barrio
Estas hablando espanol? [What you say?]
Mi mal! My bad! We multi-lingual in the Bay
Bruh, Look at the way the portray us on 106 and 94-9
Misleading and deceiving yours and mine
Distracting minds, with that audio swine
Got us thinking Black Enterprise is to hustle and grind
You ever find it weird the news never be near here
When we do good, but if we “Go Bad”, then they appear
Smear, distort, manipulating the facts
Political lies, criminalizing Latinos and Blacks
Cats need to see the television telling lies to your vision
Trying to get rich or die quick? They trying to put you in prison
The Terminator is the Governor and you think I’m tripping
Then go home and listen to that FOX, Dennis Richmond
Then tell me, Who Pimping?

* *

I'm trying to find the recording of the song. I know that at one point, journalist and online community organizer Kara Andrade had an audio recording. She wrote a great piece about the story for the Alameda Journal's "Friends & Neighbors" section.

I still have a few songs on Myspace from that era.

Photo Credit: Weapons of Mass Expression (WOME)

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Real friends fall in Lake Merritt together

>> Sunday, August 15, 2010

Oakland’s Lake Merritt is one of my favorite places in the world. I have great childhood memories of Childrens Fairyland, Festival at the Lake, and just walking with my mom. (I also remember falling in the lake back in the late 80s. Maybe I'll tell you that story some day)

Today, over two decades later, I fell in the lake again. Uggh.

Sometime this afternoon, I got the urge to go rowing at the Lake Merritt Boathouse. My usual rowing partner, Caps, was busy packing for his move back to DC. So I hit up my dearest Saba the G. She was down.

Cool. I ride my Deebo (see, bike) to the Lake. As I wait for Saba, I see my Geography professor from Merritt College. We chop it up a bit about Kemet (Egypt). She asks if I used any geography while out there. Not really, but I was aware of the environment.

When Saba arrives, we make the reservation. We decide to get the Double Kayak. I’ve often kayaked by myself, but it’s been a minute since I did a double kayak.

After switching vests (I grabbed the XL while she grabbed the 2XL), we call the women over for our double kayak. We ask for another paddle since only one was near the boat.

We climb down to the lower platform. Saba gets in first, up front, I later sit down in back. As we hop into the kayak, Saba asks, “Does this ever tip over?” The woman says something about it being unlikely, or whatever.

While paddling out of the alcove, Saba keeps complaining about her little paddle. I’m looking at it, thinking it’s the same size, but I keep paddling.

We decide to switch paddles. Saba swiftly lifts hers over her head, and hands it back to me. I grab the paddle, and hand her mines.

“Much better,” she says.

Other possible titles for this blog post:
  • How Reginald James fell in Lake Merritt (again)
  • Ain't that a b*tch, I fell in the Lake
  • Don't go swimming in Lake Merritt (I did)
  • I know what Lake Merritt tastes like
Meanwhile, I’m in the back dripping water on myself due to the midget paddle. (No offense to my Ding people).

“Let’s go back and get a bigger paddle. I can’t kayak with this little ass kid’s paddle,” I say. We turn around and head back. When we ask for a paddle, they say they have no more.

I suddenly realize that the grip edges had been adjusted. I push it outwards and, “Whoop there it is!” I have enough room to paddle. We quickly begin turning left, as we had already moved back towards the boathouse platform/walkway. As we turned we kept gaining speed. We both paddled on the right side, turn ourselves left and moving forward. We quickly approached the boats on the side.

As we paddled to push ourselves left, suddenly we tipped over.

SPLASH!

We in the water. Dirty-ass-Lake-Merritt-water.. Ugghh!

“OMG” Saba yells, laughing. “Ugggh.” We fell in Lake Merritt. Get me out this water.”

Mind you, I've been fasting for Ramadan. No food or water (among other things) in the daytime. But now, I got nasty Oakland pond water in my mouth. Fortunately, I didn't swallow any. For health's sake, and my fast.

We quickly grab our now capsized kayak. I flap my soaked tennis shoe-flippers towards the edge and pull myself up. After I climb out onto the ledge, I help Saba out the water. I notice her purse, slightly open. I pull it out the water too, as she lays on the platform. Her upper body from her waist laid on the platform, while she held her legs and feet above the water.

“Damn, my cell phone,” I think. Suddenly, I feel the phone vibrating in my pocket non-stop. I pull it out my pocket. The screen was all white. Damn, this the second phone this week. I quickly pull the battery out. The woman who set us up, I mean, helped us get in the kayak takes our phones and goes to dry them off.

As we sit on the platform soaking, Saba pouring water out her shoes, she starts cracking up.

“At least I ain’t have a perm.” Wow. What a sport! A real G.

The guy working on the dock, trying to console us, says, “I fell in last week.” Uh huh.

We walk back to take off our life vests. Looking down at our soaked clothes. I say, “Pedal boats?”


“Hell naw. I’m going home.” She said. “Did you take the bus here?” Damn. I can only imagine what I'd look (smell) like taking AC Transit home.

“No, I rode my bike,” I respond.

“I’m taking you home,” she said, taking off towards the parking lot. I walk back to the office to get my ID (and refund). Mind you, I used to go rowing weekly, so I know my face is familiar.

As soon as I walk in, the woman behind the counter slowly looks up. Suddenly, she starts cracking up. “I tried to keep a straight face,” she said. “You wasn’t even out there for five minutes.”

They give me my ID, and my money back. I’ve seen similar incidents, people don’t usually get they money back.

I walk back to the car. Saba’s white t-shirt drenched. “I look like I won a wet tee shirt contest.”

Saba’s Blackberry was tripping. Plus, he digital camera wasn’t working. On the ride back home, Saba says, “Man, I can’t even tweet about it.”

Once Sista Africa gives me a ride home, I take off my seat belt and look at her.

“You ain’t getting no hug she says!” Hahaha. My mystic, mind-reading sister. I reach over and hug her close. Allowing the duck poop and toxic sewage to marinate between us.

I go inside. Take off all the wet clothes and throw them washer and shower up. Dry off and go outside. I still have to get my bike.

I was late for the bus. Luckily, AC Transit runs late on weekends. As soon as I come out the house, I see the bus down the block. I sprint to the bus stop on 5th and Lincoln. When I get there, I see a brother standing outside the L-I-Q (corner store). He says, “You still got it!” I laugh, lightly winded. “It’s good to be in shape,” he says, pulling out a Black and Mild.

I take the bus downtown and walk back to the boathouse. I go back to the bike rack. Before I grab my bike, the lady inside looks at me and laughs again.

How I fell in Lake Merritt in 1987
One day, I was at Lake Merritt with my mom. We were feeding bread crumbs to the ducks. Well, all the big ducks crowded near the lake's edge and were taking all the crumbs. According to my mom, "the first was when you were 5 trying to lean over the edge so the 'little ducks get some food,' AFTER I told you to not lean so close to the edge." I'd leaned towards to edge to throw the crumbs out further to the little ducks in the back. I leaned too close. I fell in the lake. Fortunately, I'm one of the 4 out of 10 Black children who could swim. I doggy-paddled to the edge, towards my mother's roaring laughter.
“I had to come back to get my bike,” I said. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back again.”

As I reflect on this experience, I have to smile about my growing friendship. Many women would have been flashing hella hard, crying and carrying old. Not only did Saba soldier up, but she was laughing about it too. Now, if she had that perm that might not have been the case.

They say real friends stick with you through thick and thin. Me and Sista Africa fell in the lake together. And I bet she's down to go back.

I hope everything works out with her phone and camera. Right now, I’m trying some “Put your wet phone in rice” method I saw on You Tube. Nonetheless, there is no one else I’d rather have fallen in the lake with.

I just hope that we don't mutate.

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Reginald James' cell phone dies. Cause of phone's death unknown

>> Saturday, August 14, 2010



After 30 months of service, on August 12, Reginald James' phone broke. Permanently. The cause of death is unknown.

The phone had been "tripping" for weeks, James said. In recent days, the END call/power button seemed unresponsive. Suddenly, the phone's LCD screen went totally white.

"I just arrived at KTVU to cover a protest. I was planning on doing some live tweeting. When I pulled out the phone, the screen was all white," James said. "The phone had been tripping for a minute; buttons not responding, the phone calling other phones on it's own."

"I guess it was really time to get a new phone," he added.

Earlier this year, the phone's screen was damaged after being dropped. A large diagonal crack on the screen remained. It is unclear if the phone's death resulted from these injuries.

"I told him he should've been got a new phone," said Brandy Smith. "His (James) cheap ass didn't want to listen. Now he gotta get a new phone. Even though, he didn't answer that phone half the time."

James got the phone for it's texting dexterity. Although James tried not to talk too much on the phone, he frequently used it to send updates to Twitter. Last year, the phone stopped sending Twitpics, drastically changing James' usage of the service.

"I had the same crack on my phone's screen," said Dawna Williams. "I got a new phone months ago. I guess he held onto the phone for sentimental reasons."

James originally got the phone in 2008 to replace a malfunctioning Kyocera Strobe. Prior to that, James had a T-Mobile phone and Nextel service.

"This is the longest I've kept a single electronic communication device since a pager," James said. "I guess I was kind of attached to it. I just received a replacement in the mail, but it doesn't feel the same. The buttons are clean, there's no crack in the screen and I can't even smell my own breath when I speak into the phone. It doesn't feel right."

The replacement phone was sent in the mail the same day and arrived to James' home Friday. Ironically, but not uncharacteristically of Metro PCS, the phone was shipped without a battery. James was forced to harvest the organs of the old phone and use them in the replacement, even though the phone was not registered as an organ donor.

All of the phone's contacts -- including phone numbers and email addresses -- are gone. All of the phone's pictures are UNretrievable, also.

"All of our memories are gone. Even though the mind and soul of my phone is gone," James said, fighting back tears, "I'm using the battery of my old phone in this new one. It's like the heart is still with me, pumping and radiating energy."

"My phone don't pump no Kool-Aid," James said as he broke down and cried. After he wiped away the tears, he was seen on Craigslist.org looking for smartphones.

A private ceremony in memory of the phone at Alameda Beach will be held Saturday, August 28 (Although there is no MetroPCS service there).

In lieu of flowers, email James your name and phone number, or, you can call James at five one zero - seven seven six - one six nine five, and stay connected.

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Greening Ramadan - Better environmentally sustainable practices for Ramadan

>> Thursday, August 12, 2010



Note: This originally appeared on the discussion board of the Lighthouse Mosque's Facebook page in August 2009.

At iftar at the Alameda masjid, I noticed we had a lot of fruit and vegetables and were going to just throw them out. I've been composting for a couple years and decided I'd collect the food scraps while there. All this month -- when I've been able to break my fast at the masjid -- i've collected food scraps.

One of the things that attracted me to Islam five years ago was reverance for the environment. I've often heard that "Green is the color of Islam." Well as the best of people, we should also be the best stewards of this planet.

So here are some "Greening Ramadan Tips"

Water Conservation
Since we're not drinking water during daylight hours, we can also conserve more water and waste less. Whether you use less water for wudhu or use "gray water" to flush your toilet, we can be mindful that there are others dying due to lack of clean water.

Plates and Eating Utensils
One way people often waste water is washing dishes. One possible alternative is paper plates. Paper plates can be recycled, although you are still consuming paper. And instead of using a fork...use the original five fingered fork--your hand.

Clean your plates and lick your fingers, "You don't know in what portion of the dish your blessing (from Allah) lies."

Public Transportation
I've always found it ironic how Muslims have a tendency to be late when we have to be on schedule to pray five times per day. You'd think we'd be more systematic. Well, one thing that may work for some folks is using public transportation.

Planning ahead, you can use public transportation opposed to driving and reduce pollution you put into the air. Use 511.org or call 511 to get bus/train arrival times (and the 15 18 bus goes by the Lighthouse masjid, and the 51A goes by the Alameda masjid). You can also use NextBus.com

Conserve Power
We can also conserve electricity this month. For the entire month of August I watched just three hours of television (I ♥ PBS & History Channel). By turning off the TV, radio and other things will likely break your fast anyway, we can reduce the demand on energy.

These are just a few ideas off the top of the head, but Insha Allah, you can all find others to try this month and in the future.


CHeck out this book, GreenDeen. About Islam and the Earth.

*Additional Ideas*

Ride a Bicycle
If you live within three miles of a mosque (or anywhere in Alameda), why not ride your bike? It is healthy for your body, good for the environment and will save you money.

Let us continue to guard this planet for our posterity.

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About This Blog

Insight into my daily regimen. Obviously of a different specimen. Me, myself & I. So fly. Welcome to the Daily Regiment.

This blog is an outlet for me to write about my life experiences. While there will be consistent themes in my writing -- because I am what I project in written form -- the topics will vary from day to day, and post to post.

If you are interested in my formal news reporting, you can visit The Reginald James Report or The Black Hour.

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